Malaka Tattoo Collective

10/10 experience at Malaka Tattoo Collective. I truly couldn’t be happier with my tattoo by George Drone. I’ve been following Drone’s work for a while on Instagram and finally decided to fly out from Boston to get my first tattoo by him. The process, artwork, and final result exceeded my expectations. Drone started off by creating several designs based on the concept I had described to him. We looked at all of them together and he described his approach in detail during the beginning stages. Admittedly, I was probably a pain in the A since I was nervous for my first tattoo and I am picky by nature, but Drone was patient with me the entire time and incredibly professional, through and through. I could tell that he is a master of his craft and truly world-class. I am so happy I decided to trust the process because in hindsight, the original tattoo I had in mind would not have come out nearly as good as the one Drone cooked up. His artistic style and vision is insanely good and he cuts no corners. He is clean, fast, efficient, and sets the standard for what every tattoo artist should aspire to become. Drone was entertaining, humorous, personable, and had some great stories. He is an amazing artist and an even better person. I can’t recommend Malaka Tattoo Collective and Drone enough and I will definitely be back. Thank you!!

I visited Malaka Tattoo after contacting Lim to touch up and add to a tattoo that I’d grown to dislike. The atmosphere at Malaka was very welcoming and the area was spacious and clean. Lim had great ideas for a design and was also very willing to work with me and hear what I wanted. I could really tell that he puts a lot of care into his work and that he wanted to create something that we would both love. And I do! I absolutely love my new tattoo and was very happy with a chill day spent at Malaka.

Title: The Perfect Tattoo Spot for Surfers in Venice 🌊 As a Venice-based surfer, I live by flow, timing, balance, and energy—and this tattoo shop matched my rhythm perfectly. Even during a rare rainy week in LA, walking into the shop felt like paddling into a clean, glassy lineup. The vibe was pure Venice Beach—salty, creative, grounded, and alive. This place has that effortless coastal flow surfers understand. Calm like a mellow morning tide, but charged with creative energy, like waiting for the right set to roll in. No rush, no pressure—just trust in the process. Booking was smooth and stress-free, like catching a clean wave. I texted over my design, and the manager handled everything seamlessly—from contract to deposit—with clear communication the whole way. The follow-up emails about aftercare and retouching felt thoughtful and professional, like proper post-session recovery. My artist, Ona, is incredible. She has amazing line control, a strong aesthetic sense, and that intuitive timing surfers appreciate. She really listened, adjusted with care, and executed my vision with precision and flow. The whole session felt aligned, steady, and intentional. Great music, snacks, and an easygoing atmosphere made the experience even better. It felt like hanging out at a favorite surf spot—relaxed, welcoming, and full of good energy. I feel genuinely lucky to have this shop and Ona right in my neighborhood. If you surf, love the ocean, or move through life by reading energy and rhythm, this place will feel like home.